Man suspected of theft from church, threatening with knife

A man suspected of stealing a TV from a Vancouver church and brandishing a knife at a church affiliate appeared Tuesday in Clark County Superior Court.

John L. Double, 38, no address provided, appeared on suspicion of second-degree assault, felony harassment and third-degree possession of stolen property stemming from the Friday incident.

Jeremy Starks with Living Hope Church, 2711 N.E. Andresen Road, told police he knew a TV had recently been stolen from the church. He said he came into contact with the theft suspect, identified as Double, near the intersection of Northeast 18th Street and Andresen Road. Double allegedly had the TV with him, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Starks said he confronted Double and told him he was going to call the police. Double then allegedly armed himself with a folding knife and lunged at Starks, who was standing a few feet away. Double then fled the scene on a bicycle with the TV, the affidavit states.

Police later located Double and recovered the TV. He had a warrant for his arrest, court records said. Double also allegedly admitted to arming himself with a knife and fleeing, but would not say how he came into possession of the TV, according to court documents.

On Tuesday, Judge Derek Vanderwood appointed Double an attorney and set his bail at $35,000.

He will be arraigned Sept. 16.